Judge Schedules Co-Defendants’ Trial in March 2023

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn scheduled two homicide co-defendants’ trial for March 2023. 

Stefanie Colon, 33, and Dion Ball, 45, are both charged with first-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, two counts of second-degree child abuse, first and second-degree assault and neglect of a minor in connection to an incident on Jan. 26, 2017.

According to Fox 45 News, officers were called to an area hospital after receiving reports of possible child abuse. They found 15-year-old Hezekiah Pettiford unresponsive. He was treated by medical personnel. 

On Oct. 17, the prosecutor told Judge Phinn that she currently had no plea to offer Colon due to the case being recently assigned. She also noted that she still has to send out more discovery and wants to make sure that Colon’s defense counsel, William Buie III, has the material he needs. 

Ball was represented by defense attorney David Williams. 

The defendants’ trial is scheduled for March 20, 2023, with Judge Martin H. Schreiber presiding. It is expected to last two weeks.